Magnetically converted pin-type lock construction



June 23, 1970 G, D, NELSON ETAL 3,516,271

MAGNETICALLY CONVERTED PIN-TYPE LOCK CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 26, 1968 F-c1'. 1, FIG. 2. Fra. 3.

m2 L@ f /A/I/E/VTORS GLA DWV/v D. NELSON, LOWELL B. PLL/LEGER Y MAL/ONE); HORA/BAKE@ June 23, 1970 G. D. NELSON ET AL 3,516,271

MAGNETICALLY CONVERTED PIN-TYPE LOCK CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 26, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 6: 5CH/CK M @mm K 056 A T L E 5 NEU N @Nam W0. H vNlnDv/Wcf) WHEN new MW A 6/0 M A Trae/v5 V5 June 23,` 1976 G, D, NELSON ETAL 3,516,271

MAGNETICALLY CONVERTED PIN-TYPE LOCK CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 26, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 50 5% 72 ZZ\J"4 36 llllllll 34 I n I 5.5 W0

4 240262 40 FIG. j` `30 l /m/L-A/To/ GLA DWV/v 0. NELSON, LOWELL 5. PLL/565A BY MAHoa/Ey, Hoffi/BAKER cH/CK United States Patent O 3,516,271 MAGNETICALLY CONVERTED PIN-TYPE LOCK CONSTRUCTION Gladwyn D. Nelson, Southgate, and Lowell B. Pluegar,

Buena Park, Calif., assignors to Tool Research & Engineering Corporation, Beverly Hills, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 762,704 Int. Cl. E05b 25/00, 37/00 U.S. Cl. 70--383 20 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A usual cylinder body and rotatable cylinder core having a series of pin holes containing body driven and core bottom pin parts has a preferably spherical temporary pin part in one of the pin holes between the driven and bottom pin thereof. A storage chamber is formed in the body, preferably in an upper part of the body, opening radially against the core, said storage chamber having a magnet associated therewith and being circumferentially aligned with but spaced from the one pin hole. The temporary pin part is formed of magnetically attractive material so that when the core is rotated with the temporary pin part in the core, and the core one pin hole is radially aligned with the storage chamber, the magnet will displace the temporary pin part into the storage chamber and retain the same therein. Certain of the pin holes other than said o-ne pin hole may have master pin parts between the driven and bottom pin parts thereof adapting the lock cylinder to a unique system of temporary, change, master and permanent keys, each operable under certain conditions of the cylinder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a magnetically converted, pintype lock cylinder, and more particularly to such a lock cylinder having a temporary pin part in one of the pin holes thereof which may be selectively magnetically displaced from said one pin hole into a completely inoperative position, after which, the lock cylinder is operable in a converted condition. Even more particularly, this invention relates to such a magnetically converted, pintype lock cylinder which may lbe adapted in various forms thereof to a variety of unique, multiple key systems, a more sophisticated of said key systems including four different keys, one of which is operable only in a nonconverted condition of the lock cylinder, another of which is operable only to convert the lock cylinder to a converted condition, and the others of which are operable in any condition of the lock cylinder.

Various prior forms of key operated, pin-type lock cylinders have heretofore been provided incorporating means therein adapting said lock cylinders for initial use in a non-converted condition and later use in a different converted condition, said separate conditions each requiring a different form of key. Furthermore, said prior lock cylinders have frequently made use of a conversion or change key which is usable for changing the lock cylinder condition from non-converted to converted. For instance, the lock cylinder might have a temporary pin part in at least one of the pin holes thereof between the body and core pin parts normally found in such cylinders, the temporary pin part initially being located in the one pin hole placing the cylinder in the non-converted condition, the temporary pin part being removed from lthe one pin hole by `manipulation of the cylinder with a change key placing the cylinder in a converted condition, and thereafter the converted cylinder being ICC operable only by a different key as long as it is in the converted condition.

Key operated, pin-type lock cylinders adapted for conversion between various cylinder conditions of the general type described are in particular demand in the modern building industry in order to provide building structure locks usable during the construction period in a non-converted condition and quickly manipulated to a converted condition for use after the construction of the building structure has been completed, the non-converted and converted conditions each requiring a different form of key for operation of the same. Without structure locks having this convertible lock cylinder construction, it is ecessary to initially install locks for use solely during the construction period and then completely replace the same with different locks for use during owner occupancy, otherwise it is possible for workmen and other personnel requiring keys for use during the construction period to gain surreptitious access to the building structure after such construction and during the owner occupancy. With the convertible lock cylinder constructions as described, however, a temporary builders key may be used during the construction period, a conversion or change key used at the completion of the construction to convert the lock cylinders so that the builders key is no longer operable, and thereafter use a permanent owners key which is diierent from the builders and change keys and is the only key operable in the lock cylinder after such conversion, thereby assuring the owner that access to the building structure cannot -be gained by persons having the builders key.

One of the principal difficulties with the prior convertible lock cylinder constructions is that the means incorporated therein adapting the same for such conversion between non-converted and converted conditions is not positively operable so as to provide assurance that once the lock cylinder is changed from the non-converted to the converted condition, it will remain in such converted condition. Obviously, unless it is assured that once the conversion means is converted, it will remain in such converted conditiony there is always the danger that it might be possible to manipulate the lock at a later time by use of the temporary or builders key. At the same time, if it is possible for the lock cylinder to return to the non-converted condition after once converted and unknown to the person having the permanent owners key, there is always the possibility that the permanent owners key will not be operable making it impossible for the owner to enter the building structure.

Another difficulty with the prior convertible lock cylinder constructions has been that the conversion means incorporated therein permitting the change from the nonconveited to the converted conditions have -been relatively easily detectable, not only as to the mere presence of such conversion means, but also as to the general configuration and operation thereof. If the construction and operation of the conversion means is easily determined, it is a simple matter for unauthorized persons having only relatively basic skills in lock cylinder constructions to determine the required diiferences between the originally used temporary or builders key and the iinal permanent or owners key. Someone having the builders key in their possession, therefore, can sometimes determine and properly fabricate the contour of the permanent owners key for manipulation of the lock containing the convertible lock cylinder construction after conversion.

Still a further diiculty with the prior convertible lock cylinder constructions is that many of the same have been extremely dicult to operate in accomplishing the conversion procedure. For instance, certain of the prior convertible lock cylinder constructions have been formed so that only an exact multiple step procedure performed in a particular step by step sequence will facilitate the conversion so that the same can only be carried out by one inordinately skilled in and knowledgeable of lock cylinder constructions. The result is that such convertibile lock cylinder constructions virtually require the skill of a locksmith as to add to the over-all expense of providing the same.

-In addition to all of the foregoing, there are many situations that make desirable the provision of a master key which is operable for manipulating a multiplicity of different lock cylinders, such as lock cylinders used in a large group of rental individual residences, or lock cylinders used in multi-unit apartment buildings, whether the individual apartments are commonly owned rental apartments or individually owned but commonly cared for apartments. At the same time, if the lock cylinders are to be of the convertible type and have a common temporary builders key, it is necessary to make use of a four key system, that is, a single form temporary builders key, a single form change key, multiple form permanent owner keys and a single foirn master key, the master key being formed different from the temporary builders key but preferably being operable to manipulate all of the lock cylinders in both the non-converted and con verted condition. Still further adding to these requirements, it is frequently desirable to provide each of the individual permanent owners -keys capable of manipulating a particular lock cylinder in both the non-converted and converted condition in order that the owner or ultimate occupier of the particular structure may enter the same during the construction period, this dual purpose permanent owners key likewise being differently formed from either the temporary builders or master key.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a convertible, pin-type lock cylinder construction Wherein the conversion means thereof is foolproof in positive operation, is virtually impossible to detect after cylinder assembly as to construction form, yet is extremely simple to operate for performing the conversion process so as not to require special skills. The convertible lock cylinder construction of the present invention makes use of a storage chamber remote from the alignment of the normal pin holes, such storage chamber having a magnet associated therewith and being adapted for magnetically removing and securely storing a temporary pin part originally effective in and transported to the sto-rage chamber in one of the core pin holes of the lock cylinder. 'The temporary pin part is of magnetically attractable material so that the displacement thereof into the storage chamber is by positive magnetic force and is not subject to the deficiencies of the prior convertible lock cylinder constructions as hereinbefore discussed.

Furthermore, the convertible lock cylinder constructed of the present invention is effectively hidden enclosed within the lock cylinder and the operation thereof cannot be observed once the core has been inserted in the cylinder body, that is, the original assembly of the lock cylinder. The storage chamber for the temporary pin part is formed in the cylinder body opening inwardly against the cylinder core so as not to be observable unless the core is removed. It, therefore, is virtually impossible to determine from exteriorly of the assembled lock cylinder what form such conversion means might take and what operational steps are lrequired for converting the same.

Despite the positiveness of the operation of the conversion means, the operation thereof for converting the lock cylinder merely requires the use of a change key and a simple partial rotation of the core. Once the temporary pin part is contained within the core by use of the change key, partial rotation of the core to align the pin hole with the storage chamber is quickly accomplished and the temporary pin part is immediately magnetically displaced into the storage chamber free of the core. Thereafter, the conversion means is effectively eliminated from the lock cylinder as to subsequent operability thereof and the lock cylinder is thereafter operable in the usual manner with the permanent owners key and, if included, the lmaster key. It is evident, therefore, that the operation of the conversion means may -be accomplished by virtually anyone with simple instructions and does not require any special skills.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a magnetically converted, pin-type lock cylinder construction of the foregoing general characteristics which may be adapted for various arrangements of key systems, the particular key system to which a particular lock cylinder is adapted 'being dependent merely on relatively simple alterations in the lock cylinder construction and not requiring any alteration of the unique magnetic conversion means concept. In a more sophisticated form of the lock cylinder of the Ipresent invention with the inclusion of master pin parts in certain of the pin holes thereof, the lock cylinder may be adapted to a four key system. This four key system may include a temporary builders key useful only in the non-converted condition, a master key useful in both the non-converted and converted conditions or merely in the converted condition, a permanent owners key usable in both conditions or merely the converted condition, and a change key for accomplishing the conversion.

In a simpler form of the lock cylinder construction, the same may *be adapted to variable forms of a three key system. The three key system, in addition to the temporary pin part in one of the pin holes for supplying the necessary component of the magnetic conversion means, is merely required to have the usual driven and bottom pin parts in the remaining pin holes, yet is still adaptable t0 the unique magnetic conversion of the present invention. This simple three key system includes a temporary builders key operable only in the nonconverted condition, the permanent owners key operable in both the non-converted and converted condition, and the change key for accomplishing the conversion.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings which are for the purpose of illustration only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of lock cylinder incorporating the principles of the present invention and adapted toy a four key system;

FIG. 2 is a front elevatonal view of the lock cylinder of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view 0f the lock cylinder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, axial vertical sectional view of the lock cylinder of FIG. 1 in non-converted condition and having a temporary or builders key in operable position therein;

FIG. 5 is a radial vertical sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 5--5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but with a permanent or owners key in operable position therein;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but with a master key in operable position therein;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 4, but with a change key in operable position therein and ready for converting the lock cylinder to a converted condition;

FIG. 9 is a radial sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 9-*9 in FIG. 8, rbut with the cylinder core rotated to effect the conversion of the lock cylinder and as shown just after such conversion;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. y8, but with the cylinder core rotated by the change key back to the pin hole alignment position and in the converted condition so that further core rotation is lblocked by one of the driven. pin parts and is not capable of being operated again by the change key;

FIG. l1 is a View similar to FIG. 10 with the lock cylinder in a converted condition and showing the temporary or builders key once again inserted therein to illustrate the inoperability of the temporary or builders key with the lock cylinder in the converted position;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. l() with the lock cylinder in the converted condition and showing the permanent or owners key inserted therein to illustrate the operability of the lock cylinder by the permanent or owners key inserted therein to illustrate the operability of the lock cylinder by the permanent or owners key in the converted conditon;

FIG. 13 is a View similar to FIG. l0 with the lock cylinder in the converted condition and showing the master -key inserted therein illustrating the operability of thelock cylinder with the master key in the converted condition;

FIG. 14 is an axial vertical sectional view of an embodiment of lock cylinder incorporatng the principles of the present invention and illustrating a simpler form adapted merely for a three key system, the lock cylinder being shown in FIG. 14 in non-converted condition and with a temporary or builders key in operable position therein;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14, but showing the lock cylinder with a permanent or owners key in operable position therein, the lock cylinder still being in the nonconverted condition; and

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 14, but with a change key in operable position therein with the lock cylinder ready for the converting operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENTS CONTEMPLATED Referring to FIGS. 1 through 13 of the drawings, a somewhat sophisticated embodiment of lock cylinder incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown therein in various positions of operability and in various stages of non-converted and converted condition by use of a four key system. As` shown, the embodiment of lock cylinder includes a cylinder body generally indicated at 20 mounting a rotatable cylinder core generally indicated at 22, said core having a usual radially and axially extending key slot 24 preferably appropriately configured for axially slidably receiving keys therein formed with any of the usual side recesses. The cylinder core 22 is further formed in the usual manner connectable into various constructions of latch and bolt mechanisms, not shown and not a part of the present invention.

A series of axially aligned and, in this case, vertically upwardly extending pin holes are formed radially in the cylinder body 20 alignable extending downwardly into the cylinder core 22 and partially radially into the key slot 24, all constructed in the usual manner. For purposes of designation in describing. the principles of the present invention, however, four of the pin holes are indicated as standard pin holes 26 and one of the pin holes is indicated as a special pin hole 218. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the standard pin holes 26 contains a driven pin part 30 overlying a relatively radially reduced master pin part 32, in turn, radially overlying a bottom pin part 34, the special pin hole 28 also having the driven and bottom pin parts 30 and 34, but initially having said driven and bottom pin parts radially separated by a temporary pin part 36.

All of the drive, master and bottom pin parts 30, 32 and 34 are of the usual, generally cylindrical conguration having the major diameters thereof essentially equal to the diameters of the standard and special pin holes 26 and 28, the master pin parts 32 appearing somewhat wafer-like in View of their short radial lengths. The temporary pin part 36 is, however, preferably spherical in shape of slightly reduced diameter from the driven, master and bottom pin parts 30, 32 and 34, the most important portion of the temporary pin part 36 being the normally lower semispherical or arcuate surface 38 which initially radially a'buts the bottom pin part 34 of the special pin hole 28 for reasons to be hereinafter developed. With the pin holes 26 and 2S in their radially aligned positions as shown, for instance, in FIGS. 4 and 5, usual pin springs 40 in each of the pin holes resiliently urge all of the pin parts 30, 32, 34 and 36 radially inwardly toward the key slot 24.

Thus, in the four standard pin holes 26, upper axially extending separation lines 42 are formed radially between the driven pin parts 30 and the master pin parts 32, and lower axially extending separation lines 44 are formed radially between the master pin parts 32 and the bottom pin parts 314. In the special pin hole 28, an upper separation line 46 must also be an axially extending separation line since if the spherical temporary pin part 36 is to be contained within the core 22 for permitting rotation of said core in such position, this temporary pin part must be totally within the core so that the upper semi-spherical or arcuate contour of the temporary pin part is not of consequence and the effective separation line is an axially extending upper separation line conforming to the lower axially extending termination of the driven pin part 30. A lower separation line 48 radially between the lower semispherical or arcuate surface 38 of the temporary pin part 36 and the radially adjacent bottom pin part 34 is, however, effectively an arcuate separation line for reasons to more clearly appear hereinafter.

A usual axially extending shearline 50 is formed totally along the core 22 at the radial separation between said core and the body 20, said shearline intersecting the pin holes 26 and 28. As a consequence, when any of the axially extending upper and lower separation lines 42 and 44 are positioned radially exactly at the shearline 50, none of the driven, master or bottom pin parts 30, 32 or 34 of the standard pin holes 26 will block rotation of the core 22 in the body 20. The same is true of the axially extending upper separation line 46 of the special pin hole 28 with regard to blocking by either of the driven or temporary pin parts 30 and 36. With the arcuate lower separation line 48 formed radially between the temporary pin part 36 and the bottom pin part 34 of the special pin hole 28, however, when any part of this arcuate lower separation line 48 is axially aligned with the shearline 50, that is, any part of the lower semi-spherical surface 38 of the temporary pin part 36, the temporary pin part will not prevent rotation of the core 22 in the body 20 since the attempted rotation of the core will always force the spherical temporary pin part 36 radially upwardly fully within the body 20 to permit such core rotation.

Thus, due to the formation of the driven, master and bottom pin parts 30, 32 and 34, the upper and lower separation lines 42 and 44 formed between said pin parts in the standard pin holes 26 must be positioned substantially exactly at the shearline 50 in order that the driven, master and bottom pin parts 30, 32 and 34 will not prevent rotation of the core 22 within the body 20. The upper separation line 46 formed at the inner or lower termination of the driven pin part 30 of the special pin hole 28 requires this same substantially exact alignment with the shearline 50 in order that this driven pin part 30 or the temporary pin part 36 will not prevent such rotation Of the core 22 within the body 20, but the arcuate lower separation line `48 formed by the temporary pin part lower arcuate surface 38 in this special pin hole does not require this axact alignment since the temporray pin part lower arcuate surface permits upward urging of the temporary pin part fully into the body 20 as long as the bottom pin part 34 has the upper extremity thereof positioned at or below the shearline 50. Such separation line positioning and the consequences thereof will more clearly appear hereinafter in the description of the operation of the lock cylinder construction.

Referring particularly to FIG. 5, a radially extending,

cylindrical storage chamber 52 is formed in the body circumferentially aligned with, but circumferentially spaced from the special pin hole 28, said storage chamber opening radially inwardly against the core 22. The storage chamber 52 is preferably only slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the temporray pin part 36 for receiving said temporary pin part radially therein and is smaller diameter than any of the driven, master or bottom pin parts 30, 32 or 34 which are all preferably of equal larger diameter. Furthermore, the storage chamber 52 is preferably formed extending radially substantially equal to the diameter of the temporary pin part 36 so that said temporary pin part may be fully radially outwardly received therein but will occupy substantially the entire radial length of the storage chamber.

It is further preferred that the storage chamber 52 will project radially outwardly within the upper half of the body 20 so as to project radially upwardly, and with the axially aligned standard and special pin holes 26 and 23 projecting vertically upwardly, the storage chamber will be circumferentially spaced from said axially aligned vertical extension less than 90 and in the order of 45 for the embodiment shown. Also as shown, the storage chamber 52 terminates upwardly and outwardly in an enlarged magnet chamber 54 within which is secured a permanent magnet 56. Thus, with the temporary pin part 36 formed of a magnetically attractive material, such as steel, when the temporary pin part is contained totally within the core 22 and the core is rotated to radially align the special pin hole 28 with the storage chamber 52, the magnet 56 will displace or draw the temporary pin part into the storage chamber and retain the same therein, while with the driven, master and bottom pin parts 30, 32 and 34 formed of usual nonmagnetically attractive material, the bottom pin part of the special pin hole will be completely unaffected by the magnet.

In use of the more sophisticated embodiment of the lock cylinder of the present invention, therefore, at the time of original installation of the lock cylinders, the temporary pin part 36 is positioned in the special pin hole 28 radially between the driven and bottom pin parts 30 and 34 of said special pin hole. Furthermore, this more sophisticated form of the lock cylinder is adapted for a four key systemtem, namely, at least one temporary or builders key 58 shown for instance in FIG. 4, at least one permanent or owners key 60 shown for instance in FIG. 6, at least one master key 62 shown for instance in FIG. 7, and at least one change key 64 shown for instance in FIG. 8. Each of the keys 58, 60, 62 and 64 is appropriately formed for axial insertion into the key slot 24 and each of said keys is differently notched for positioning the various pin parts 30, 32, 34 and 36 in various manners described below.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, the body and core 20 and 22 are shown as originally installed and as operable by the temporary key 58. As hereinbefore described, at original installation, the temporary pin part 36 is positioned within the special pin hole 28 radially separating the driven and bottom pin parts 30 and 34 thereof, while each of the standard pin holes 26 contains a master pin part 32 radially separating the driven and bottom pin parts thereof. The temporary key 58 is appropriately notched for positioning the upper separation lines 42 between the driven and master pin parts 30 and 32 of the standard pin holes 26 exactly at the shearline 50 between the body and core 20 and 22.

At the same time, the temporary key 58 is appropriately notched for positioning the bottom and temporary pin parts 34 and 36 of the special pin hole 28 at a radial location wherein the shearline 50 is radially or vertically intermediate the temporary pin part lower arcuate surface 38, that is, so that said lower arcuate surface projects partially into the core 22 but with the shearline still axially aligned with a part of such lower arcuate surface of the temporary pin part. With this positioning of the various pin parts, the core 22 may be rotated within the body 20 by the temporary key 58 and during such rotation, the temporary pin part 36 will initially project partially into the core, but due to the lower arcuate surface 38 thereof, at the commencement of such rotation, this temporary pin part will be forced upwardly fully into the body and forcing its associated driven pin part 30 to further compress the pin spring 40. Also during such rotation, the master pin part 32 of the standard pin holes 26 will remain in the core 22.

As shown in FIG. 6, the permanent or owners key 60 is appropriately notched so that when the assembly of the body and core 20 and 22 is originally installed with the temporary pin part 36 still within the special pin hole 28, the master pin parts 32 of the standard pin holes 26 are radially positioned with the lower separation lines 44 at the shearline 50. Further, the permanent key 60 is appropriately notched for positioning the lowermost extremity of the temporary pin part 36 and the upper extremity of the bottom pin part 34 exactly at the shearline 50 so that the core 22 may be rotated Within the body 20 with the master pin parts 32 and the temporary pin part 36 remaining within the body 20. Obviously, the permanent key 60 is notched considerably different from the temporary or builders key 58 even though this permanent key will still operate the assembly of the body and core 20 and 22 as originally installed or in the non-converted condition.

Referring to FIG. 7, the master key 62 is appropriately notched so that the temporary pin parts 36 of the standard pin holes 26 have the upper separation lines 42 thereof axially aligned with the shearline 50 similar to the temporary or builders key 58. This master key 62, however, is further appropriately notched so as to position the ternporary pin part 36 with the lower extremity thereof and the upper extremity of its associated bottom pin part 34 exactly at the shearline 50, similar to the permanent or owners key 60. As a consequence, the master key 62 likewise operates the assembly of the body and core 20 and 22 when said assembly is in its originally installed or non-converted condition even though the master key 62 is notched dilferently from both the temporary or builders key 58 and the permanent or owners key 60.

Thus, in the originally installed or non-converted condition of the body and core 20 and 22, such assembly may be operated by any one of the temporary or builders key 58, the permanent or owners key 60 or the master key 62 even though each of said keys is differently notched. Furthermore, during such non-converted operation, the temporary pin part 36 always remains in the body 20 within the special pin hole 28 so that said temporary pin part can never move circumferentially to the location of the storage chamber 52. In addition, the magnet 56 of the storage chamber 52 will not affect the bottom pin part 34 of the special pin hole 28 as it moves circumferentially by the storage chamber in view of the fact that this bottom pin part is preferably nonmagnetically attractive. For further safety, however, the opening into the storage chamber 52 is of smaller diameter than this bottom pin part 34 so as to prevent such entrance.

When it is desired to convert the assembly of the body and core 20 and 22, such as at the completion of construction, for eliminating the use of the temporary or builders key 58, the change key 64 is inserted as shown in FIG. 8. The change key 64 is appropriately notched for positioning the master pin parts 32 of the standard pin holes 26 with the upper separation lines 42 thereof at the shearline 50, although it could be appropriately notched for positioning the master pin parts with the lower separation lines 44 thereof at the shearline and would accomplish the same thing. The change key 64 is further appropriately notched for positioning the temporary pin part 36 of the special pin hole 28 totally within the core 22 and the lower extremity of the driven pin part 30 of said special pin hole exactly at and axially aligned with the shearline as shown.

The assembly is then ready for conversion which is accomplished =by rotating the core 22 relative to the body 20 until the special pin hole 28 is radially aligned with the storage chamber 52 as shown in FIG. 9. The magnet 56 draws the temporary pin part 36 radially upwardly into the storage chamber 52 and from the special pin hole 28 retaining the temporary pin part free of the core. Again, the bottom pin part 34 of the special pin hole 28 is unaffected by the magnet 56 in view of it being of nonmagnetically attractive material, although this bottom pin part could still not be displaced or drawn into the storage chamber since the storage chamber has radial dimensions exactly equal to the temporary pin part and the opening into the storage chamber is of less diameter than this bottom pin part.

The assembly of the body and core 20 and 22 is now in converted condition and when the core 22 is rotated to once again align the standard and special pin holes 26 and 28 as shown in FIG. 10, the driven pin part 30 of the special pin hole 28 will move radially downwardly across the shearline 50` to block further rotation of the core even though the change key 64 remains in said core. Also, even though the change key 64 is removed from the core 22 and the temporary or builders key 58 is once again inserted therein, the core will still not be rotatable within the body 20, since as shown in FIG. 11, with the removal of the temporary pin part 36, the driven pin part 30 of the special pin hole 28 will still extend radially across the shearline 50 and block such rotation. In such converted condition, therefore, neither the temporary or builders key 58 nor the change key 64 are operable for operating the lock cylinder assembly.

Despite this converted condition, and despite the removal of the temporary pin part 36 from the special pin hole 28, the permanent or owners key 60 and the master key 62 are still operable. As shown in FIG. 12, the permanent or owners key 60 will still position the master pin parts 32 of the standard pin holes 26 with their lower separation lines 44 at the shearline 50` and the upper separation line 46 of the special pin hole 28, now the only separation line between the driven and bottom pin parts 30 and 34 of said special pin hole, at the shear line. As shown in FIG. 13, the master key 62 will still position the master pin parts 32 of the standard pin holes 26 with their upper separation lines 42 at the shearline S0 and the upper separation lines 46 of the special pin hole 28 at the shearline.

A simplified embodiment of the lock cylinder construction of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 14, and 16, and this simplified form is substantially the same as the more sophisticated form of FIGS. l through 13 with the exception that the simplied form only makes use of a three key system. More particularly, the only true difference necessary between the more sophisticated form of FIGS. l through 15 and the simpler form of FIGS. 14 through 16 is that the master pin parts 32 of the more sophisticated form are eliminated so as to eliminate master keying from the keying system. Thus, the simplified form of FIGS. 14 through 16 include virtually the same cylinder body and core and 22, the same ttour standard pin holes 26, the same special pin hole 28, and the same driven, bottom and temporary pin parts 32, 34 and 36 urged radially inwardly by the pin springs 40.

The body 20 is `formed with the same storage chamber S2 and the same magnet chamber 54 having the magnet 56, the storage chamber being circumferentially aligned and spaced from the special pin hole 28 in the same position and functioning the same as before. The driven and bottom pin parts 30 and 34 of the standard pin holes 26 now, however, only have a single separation line radially therebetween indicated by 66 to avoid confusion with the first embodiment. The driven, bottom and temporary l0 pin parts 30, 32 and 36 of the special pin hole 28 have the same separation lines as before in the non-converted condition, the upper separation line being indicated at 68 and the arcuate lower separation line being indicated at 70, also for the purpose of avoiding confusion.

Without any attempted comparison in likeness to the more sophisticated lock cylinder construction, the three key system lock cylinder construction of this second embodiment includes a temporary or builders key 72 shown in FIG. 14, a permanent or owners key 74 shown in FIG. l5, and a change key 76 shown in FIG. 16, all appropriately slotted for axial insertion into the key slot 24. All three of the keys 72, 74 and 76 are appropriately notched for positioning the driven and bottom pin parts 3l) and 34 of the standard pin holes 26 with the separation line 66 thereof at and aligned with the shearline 50, so to this extent, the keys are essentially the same. The notching of the keys is different in each case, however, for positioning the driven, lbottom and temporary pin parts, or merely the driven and bottom pin parts, in the special pin hole 28.

As shown in FIG. 14, the temporary or builders key 72 is appropriately notched for positioning the driven, bottom and temporary pin parts 30, 34 and 36 of the special pin hole 28 with the shearline 50 axially aligned with a vertically intermediate part of the temporary pin part 36, that is, a portion of the lower arcuate surface 38 of the temporary pin part 36 vertically upwardly from the lowermost extremity of the temporary pin part aligned with the shearline as shown. Thus, the core 22 may be rotated by the temporary or builders key 72 with said rotation initially forcing the temporary pin part 36 fully upwardly into the body 20 permitting operation of the assembly of the body and core in the non-converted condition. In view of the fact that the temporary pin part 36 always remains in the body 20, the same will never reach the location of the storage chamber 52 during the use of the temporary or `builders key 72.

Referring to FIG. l5, the permanent or owners key 74 is appropriately notched for positioning the driven, bottom and temporary pin parts 30, 34 and 36 of the special pin hole 28 with the upper extremity of the bottom pin part and the lower extremity of the temporary pin part exactly at the shearline 50. The permanent or owners key 74 may, therefore, be used to rotate the core 22 and operate the lock cylinder while said lock cylinder is in the non-converted condition, even though the ternporary and permanent keys 72 and 74 are different. Again, in view of the fact that the temporary pin part 56 remains at all times in the body 20, this temporary pin part can never reach the storage chamber 52 during this non-converted use of the permanent or owners key 74.

As shown in FIG. 16, when it is desired to convert the lock cylinder formed by the body and core 2t) and 22 so that the temporary or builders key 72 is no longer usable, the change key 76 is used which is appropriately notched for positioning the driven, bottom and temporary pin parts 30, 34 and 36 with the lower extremity of the driven pin part and the upper extremity of the temporary pin part exactly aligned with the shearline 50, the tem porary pin part thereby being totally within the core 22. Rotation of the core 22 then can align the core portion of the special pin hole 28 radially with the storage chamber 52 and permit the magnet 56 and the magnet chamber 54 to displace or draw the temporary pin part 36 upwardly into the storage chamber 52 so as to completely remove this temporary pin part from the special pin hole. Returning the core 22 to realign the standard and special pin holes 26 and 28 will cause the driven pin part 30 of the special pin hole 28 to move downwardly across the shearline 50 and block further rotation of the core 22 while the change key 76 remains inserted therein.

The same is true of any reinsertion of the temporary or builders key 72, that is, the temporary or builders key will position both the driven and bottom pin parts 30 and 34 of the special pin hole 28 with the driven pin part still radially downwardly across the shearline 50 blocking rotation of the core 22. The only key which may then be used for operation of the lock cylinder is, therefore, the permanent or owners key 74 and the lock cylinder is now in the converted condition. As in the rst or more sophisticated embodiment, the permanent or owners key 74 operates the lock cylinder of this simpler form in both the non-converted and converted condition.

According to the present invention, therefore, the unique magnetically converted, pin-type lock cylinder may be adapted to a more sophisticated four key system or a simpler three key system, each including the advantageous magnetic conversion means which is extremely positive in operation and has maximum simplicity so as not to require complicated manipulation of the lock cylinder nor any special skills for accomplishing such conversion. In the more sophisticated form illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 13, the inclusion of the master pin parts 32 adapts the lock cylinder to a master keying system particularly useful where it is desirable to provide a large number of lock cylinders, all controllable by the same master key. At the same time, whether in the more sophisticated form of FIGS. 1 through 13 or the simpler form of FIGS. 14 through 16, the lock cylinder is always operable both in the nonconverted and converted conditions by the permanent or owners key 60 or 74, the more sophisticated form permitting such operation in both non-converted and converted conditions by the master key 62.

It is pointed out that it is not intended to limit the broad principles of the present invention to the particular embodiments of lock constructions illustrated and described, many variances therefrom being possible while still carrying out certain of the principles of the present invention. For instance, it is obvious to one skilled in the art that the special pin hole 28 originally containing the temporary pin part 36 could be at any location, that is, there could be one or more special pin holes 28 in the locations of any of the standard pin holes 26, the particular location shown merely being used as an example. Where special pin holes 28 are provided at different locations, it is, of course, necessary to provide a properly aligned storage chamber 52. Furthermore, it is evident that the shape of the magnetic chamber 54 and the permanent magnet 56 is generally immaterial as long as it is capable of functioning in the manner described, that shown merely being a preferred form.

We claim:

1. In a key operated, pin-type lock cylinder of the type having a core rotatable in a body, a radial key slot axially of said core, a series of axially aligned and radially extending pin holes in said body and in said core radially into said core key slot, said body and core pin holes being radially alignable and forming an axially extending shear line between said body and core, a driven pin part in each of said body pin holes normally resiliently urged radially inwardly toward said core, a bottom pin part in each of said core pin holes projecting into said key slot, said core being non-rotatable when said body and core pin holes are aligned and separation lines between said driven and bottom pin parts are radially displaced from said shear line, and said core being rotatable when said separation lines between said driven and bottom pin parts are at said shear line, the improvements comprising: a temporary pin part initially in at least one of said pin holes radially between said driven and bottom pin parts of said one pin hole, said core being rotatable when separation lines between either of said driven and bottom pin parts and said temporary pin part are at said shear line while said separation lines of the remaining of said driven and bottom. pin parts are also at said shear line; said temporary pin part being of magnetically attractable material; a storage chamber in said body circumferentially spaced from and alignable with said one pin hole opening radially against said core; a magnet associated with said storage chamber; and said storage chamber being dimensioned and said magnet being of sufficient magnetic strength displacing said temporary pin part into and retaining said temporary pin part totally within said storage chamber free of said core when said temporary pin part is positioned in said core and said core is rotated into position radially aligning said temporary pin part with said storage chamber.

2. A lock cylinder as defined in claim 1 in which said storage chamber is formed generally upwardly into said body and opening generally downwardly against said core; and in which said magnet displaces said temporary pin part generally upwardly into said storage chamber.

3. A lock cylinder as defined in claim 1 in which said temporary pin part is dimensioned in a direction normal to said radial extension of said one pin hole spaced smaller than said bottom pin part of said one pin hole; and in which said storage chamber is dimensioned at least at the opening thereof radially against said core smaller than said bottom pin part of said one pin hole but suiciently large to permit said temporary pin part displacement into said storage chamber.

4. A lock cylinder as defined in claim 1 in which said temporary pin part is dimensioned radially substantially equal to radial dimensions of said storage chamber.

5. A lock cylinder as dened in claim 1 in which said temporary pin part is generally spherical.

6. A lock cylinder as defined in claim 1 in which said storage chamber terminates radially outwardly spaced from said core in a magnet chamber; and in which said magnet is a permanent magnet positioned in said magnet chamber.

7. A lock cylinder as defined in claim 1 in which an inner radial end of said temporary pin part is formed with generally arcuate surfaces forming a generally arcuate separation line between said temporary pin part and said bottom pin part of said one pin hole; in which said temporary pin part is dimensioned radially substantially equal to said storage chamber radial dimensions: in which said storage chamber terminates radially outwardly spaced from said core in a magnet chamber; and in which said magnet is a permanent magnet positioned in said magnet chamber.

8. A lock cylinder as defined in claim 1 in which inner radial surfaces of said temporary pin part are formed generally arcuate and form a generally arcuate separation line between said temporary pin part and said bottom pin part of said one pin hole; in which said temporary pin part is dimensioned radially substantially equal to radial dimensions of said storage chamber; in which said storage chamber is formed generally upwardly into said body and opens generally radially downwardly against said core; and in which said magnet displaces said temporary pin part generally upwardly into said storage chamber.

9. A lock cylinder as dened in claim 1 in which master pin parts are positioned in certain of said pin holes other than said one pin hole radially between said driven and bottom pin parts of said other pin holes forming separation lines between said master pin parts and each of said driven and bottom pin parts of said other pin holes.

10. A lock cylinder as defined in claim 1 in which said temporary pin part is formed with arcuate surfaces at an inner radial end thereof to form a generally arcuate separation line between said temporary pin part and said bottom pin part of said one pin hole; and in which said lock cylinder includes a temporary key, a change key, a permanent key, all of said keys being formed axially insertable into said core key slot radially aligned with all of said pin holes, all of said keys being appropriately notched to position said remaining of said driven and |bottom pin parts with said separation lines at said shear-line, said temporary key also being appropriately notched to position portions of said arcuate surfaces on said temporary pin part radially spaced from said bottom pin part of said one pin hole at said shear line, said change key also being appropriately notched to position said temporary pin part totally radially within said core and said separation line between said temporary pin part and said driven pin part of said one pin hole at said shearline, said permanent key being appropriately notched to position said bottom pin part of said one pin hole with an outer extremity thereof at said shear line both before and after said displacement of said temporary pin part into said storage chamber.

11. A lock cylinder as dened in claim 1 in which master pin parts are positioned in certain of said pin holes other than said one pin hole radially between said driven and bottom pin parts of said other pin holes forming separation lines between said master pin parts and each of said driven and bottom pin parts of said other pin holes; in which said temporary pin part is formed with arcuate surfaces at an inner radial end thereof to form a generally arcuate separation line between said temporary pin part and said bottom pin part of said one pin hole; and in which said lock cylinder includes a temporary key, a change key, a permanent key, a master key, all of said keys being formed axially insertable into said core key slot radially aligned with all of said pin holes, all of said keys being appropriately notched to position said driven and master and bottom pin parts of said other pin holes with certain separation lines thereof at said shearline, said temporary key also being appropriately notched to position portions of said arcuate surfaces on said temporary pin part radially spaced from said bottom pin part of said one pin hole at said shearline, said change key also being appropriately notched to position said temporary pin part totally radially within said core and said separation line between said temporary pin part and said driven pin part of said one pin hole at said shearline, said permanent and master keys each being notched differently but both being appropriately notched to position said bottom pin part of said one pin hole with an outer extremity thereof at said shearline both before and after said displacement of said temporary pin part into said storage chamber.

12. A lock cylinder as defined in claim 1 in which master pin parts are positioned in certain of said pin holes other than said one pin hole radially between said driven and bottom pin parts of said other pin holes forming separation lines between said master pin parts and each of said driven and bottom pin parts of said other pin holes; in which said temporary pin part is formed with arcuate surfaces at an inner radial end thereof to form a generally arcuate separation line between said temporary pin part and said bottom pin part of said one pin hole; in which said lock cylinder includes a temporary key, a change key, a permanent key, a master key, all of said keys being formed axially insertable into said core key slot radially aligned with all of said pin holes, all of said keys being appropriately notched to position said driven and master and bottom pin parts of said other pin holes with certain separation lines thereof at said shearline, said temporary key also being appropriately notched to position portions of said arcuate surfaces on said temporary pin part radially spaced from said bottom pin part of said one pin hole at said shearline, said change key also being appropriately notched to position said temporary pin part totally radially within said core and said separation line between said temporary pin part and said driven pin part of said one pin hole at said shearline, said permanent and master keys each being notched differently but both being appropriately notched to position said bottom pin part of said one pin hole with an outer extremity thereof at said shearline both before and after said displacement of said temporary pin part into said storage chamber; in which said storage chamber is formed generally upwardly into said body and opening generally downwardly against said core; and in which said magnet displaces said temporary pin part generally upwardly into said storage chamber.

13. A lock cylinder as defined in claim 1 in which master pin parts are positioned in certain of said pin holes other than said one pin hole radially between said driven and bottom pin parts of said other pin holes forming separation lines between said master pin parts and each of said driven and bottom pin parts of said other pin holes; in which said temporary pin part is formed with arcuate surfaces at an inner radial end thereof to form a generally arcuate separation line between said temporary pin part and said bottom pin part of said one pin hole; in which said lock cylinder includes a temporary key, a change key, a permanent key, a master key, all of said keys being formed axially insertable into said core key slot radially aligned with all of said pin holes, all of said keys being appropriately notched to position said driven and master and bottom pin parts of said other pin holes with certain separation lines thereof at said shearline, said temporary key also being appropriately notched to position portions of said arcuate surfaces on said temporary pin part radially spaced from said bottom pin part of said one pin hole at said shearline, said change key also being appropriately notched to position said temporary pin part totally radially within said core and said separation line between said temporary pin part and said driven pin part of said one pin hole at said shearline, said permanent and master keys each being notched differently but both being appropriately notched to position said bottom pin part of said one pin hole with an outer extremity thereof at said shearline both before and after said displacement of said temporary pin part into said storage chamber; in which said storage chamber is formed generally upwardly into said body and opening generally downwardly against said core; in which said magnet displaces said temporary pin part generally upwardly into said storage chamber; and in which said temporary pin part is dimensioned radially substantially equal to radial dimensions of said storage chamber.

14. In a key operated, pin-type lock cylinder, the combination of: normally radially inwardly abutting driven and temporary and bottom pin parts positioned in a single radially extending and alignable pin hole which is formed in a cylinder body projecting inwardly into a chamber core and a key slot of said core, said driven pin part being resiliently urged inwardly to urge said bottom pin part into said core key slot when said single pin hole is radially aligned through relative rotatable positioning of said core in said body, said core being rotatable when separation lines between either of said driven and bottom pin parts and said temporary pin part are positioned at a shear line between said body and core simultaneously with similar positioning of any other pin parts in any other pin holes of said body and core, said core being nonrotatable when said driven pin part projects radially across said shear line; said temporary pin part being of magnetically attractable material; and a storage chamber in said body circumferentially spaced from and aligned with said single pin hole having a magnet associated therewith, said storage chamber and magnet being constructed and arranged permitting said magnet to displace said temporary pin part into and retain said temporary pin part in said storage chamber free of said core when said pin parts of said single pin hole are positioned with said separation line between said driven pin part and said temporary pin part at said shear line and said core is rotated to radially align said temporary pin part with said storage chamber.

1S. A lock cylinder as defined in claim 14 in which said storage chamber extends generally upwardly into said body and opens radially downwardly against said core; and in which said magnet displaces said temporary pin part generally upwardly into said storage chamber.

16. A lock cylinder as defined in claim 14 in which said temporary pin part is dimensioned radially substantially equal to radial dimensions of said storage chamber.

17. A lock cylinder as defined in claim 14 in which said storage chamber terminates radially spaced from said core in a magnet chamber; and in which said magnet is a permanent magnet positioned in said magnet chamber.

18. A lock cylinder as defined in claim 14 in which said temporary pin part has generally arcuate surfaces at a radial end thereof toward said bottom pin part of said single pin hole; in which said temporary pin part is dimensioned radially substantially equal to radial dimensions of said storage chamber; in which said storage charnber terminates radially outwardly in a magnet chamber; and in which said magnet is a permanent magnet and is positioned in said magnet chamber.

19. A lock cylinder as defined in claim 14 in which said storage chamber extends generally upwardly into said body opening generally downwardly against said core; in which said temporary pin part is dimensioned radially substantially equal to radial dimensions of said storage chamber; and in which said temporary pin part has generally arcuate surfaces at a radial end thereof toward said bottom pin part of said single pin hole and forming an arcuate separation line between said temporary and bottom pin parts.

20. A lock cylinder as defined in claim 14 in which said temporary pin part has generally arcuate surfaces at a radial end thereof toward said bottom pin part of said single pin hole and forming an arcuate separation line between said temporary and bottom pin parts; and in which said lock cylinder includes a temporary key, a change key, a permanent key, all of said keys being formed axially insertable into said core key slot radially aligned with said single pin hole and any other pin holes of said body and core, all of said keys being appropriately notched to position any driven and bottom pin parts of said any other pin holes with separation lines radially between said pin parts at said shearline, said temporary key also being appropriately notched to position portions of said arcuate surfaces on said temporary pin part radially spaced from said bottom pin part of said single pin hole at said shearline, said change key also being appropriately notched to position said temporary pin part totally radially within said core and said separation line between said temporary pin part and said driven pin part of said single pin hole at said shearline, said permanent key being appropriately notched to position said bottom pin part of said single pin hole with an outer extremity thereof at said shearline both before and after said displacement of said temporary pin part into said storage chamber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,073,146 l/1963 Patriquin --383 3,078,705 2/1963 Morrison 70-383 3,175,378 3/1965 Russell 70--382 3,183,692 5/1965 Check 70-383 3,234,768 2/1966 Russell et al. 70-383 RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner R. L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 70-276 

